Granted, Lamar Jackson is still out sick and the offense usually takes a little longer to gain its footing in training camp. But early indications are that the Ravens secondary is going to be a no-fly zone this season.
A healthy Marlon Humphrey was the standout of Day 1 of training camp. On Monday, Nate Wiggins and newcomer Eddie Jackson got picks.
On Tuesday, Arthur Maulet had an impressive leaping interception (and nearly a couple more), Brandon Stephens was in lockdown mode, and others also broke up passes.
Maulet now has two interceptions in three practices and had another one on Monday that was negated by a sack. The Ravens defense is flying around.
Here are the highlights from Tuesday's practice:
- Rashod Bateman followed up Monday's strong, rainy practice with another good day on Tuesday, including a juggling catch on a bomb down the sideline with Humphrey and Ar'Darius Washington close in coverage. Bateman also showed off his shiftiness after a short catch over the middle when he cut back around Roquan Smith and burst up the field.
- Stephens broke up a pass intended for Bateman, went toe to toe with tight end Mark Andrews to force an incompletion when the two were matched up down the sideline, and had tight coverage on a throw to the end zone intended for Zay Flowers. Stephens has picked up where he left off last season.
- Outside linebacker David Ojabo flashed a nifty spin move to get a pressure (and possibly a sack). On the next play, he blew up a run play when he shrugged off fullback Patrick Ricard to crash inside and thump Owen Wright.
- Odafe Oweh is setting up residence in the Ravens backfield. He beat Ronnie Stanley around the edge for what would've been a sack before a long completion to Zay Flowers. Head Coach John Harbaugh said he had to talk to Oweh about not getting too close to the quarterback.
- Second-year linebacker Trenton Simpson showed off his physicality by knocking back guard Sala Aumavae-Laulu on a screen pass to get to Justice Hill.
- Wiggins flashed the advantage he has with his length when he went over the back of wide receiver Malik Cunningham during seven-on-seven drills to break up a pass.
- Jalyn Armour-Davis broke up a pass intended for Bateman that was almost picked off by Maulet. Harbaugh spoke glowingly of the work Armour-Davis and fellow third-year cornerback Damarion "Pepe" Williams have put in so far this summer.
- Kyle Hamilton had a quick read on an outside swing pass to Derrick Henry and would've rocked the massive running back, drawing a yell of praise from inside linebacker Roquan Smith. Eddie Jackson also sniffed out a misdirection throw to Cunningham in the flats.
